Surgical instrument



(No Model.)

L. OLIVIERI.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 442,386. Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

vwawtoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONIDA OLIVIERI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,386, dated December9, 1890.

Application filed September 18, 1890. Serial No. 365,388. (No model.)

To all whom it ntoay concern.-

Be it known that I, LEONIDA OLIVIERI, residing in Chicago, Cook county,Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SurgicalInstruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to provide an instrument for use in makingincipient incisions in the wind-pipe, either to permit respiration or toremove obstructions therefrom, or for other purposes, which by itspeculiar construction clearly demonstrates to the operator when thethroat is entered, and thus prevents the possibility of a deceptive orfalse incision, to remedy which often requires minutes when momentsdecide life or death, substantially as hereinafter fully described, andas illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a diagrammatical view of the human throat and the manner of inserting my improvedinstrument therein. Fig. 2 shows a side view of a full-sized instrument.Fig. 3 is a front view of the operating end thereof. Fig. 4.1:. across-section taken on dotted line 4 at, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is across-section taken on dotted line 5 5, Fig. 2, looking toward the rearof the instrument; and Fig. 6 is a side view of a modification thereof.

Referring to the drawings, A represents thehandle of myimprovedinstrument,which is preferably polygonal in shape, and isserrated. E represents the body of the same, and 0 represents the hookon the operating end of said instrument, made by properly extending andshaping the body of the same, as shown. The point of hook C is verysharp,

and its back from the point to the highest point thereof is providedwith a channel or groove 0, the lateral dimensions of which graduallyincrease as it passes back from the point until it reaches said highestpoint, whereupon it enters upon the arm (Z and continues back the entirelength thereof. This armd extends tangentially from the top of the backof the hook parallel with the body of the instrument toward the rear ofthe same.

In use the hook C of my improved instrument is inserted into thewind-pipe about as shown in Fig. 1. IVhen the point of the hook entersthe wind-pipe, the supressed air exhaled from the lungs rushes outthrough the groove 0 in its back and makes known to the operator thathis instrument has reached the objective point. The back of the surgicalknife or bistoury 0. (shown in Fig. 1) is then inserted in and movedlongitudiuallyin the groove toward the point of the hook, so as toobtain entrance to the wind-pipe for the subsequent operation, which,however, it is not necessary for me to further describe so far as thepurposes of the subject-matter hereof are concerned. here the patient isexhausted and weak, the exit of theair through groove 0 is so faint asto be liable to deceive the operator. It is necessary, therefore, forsome other means to be adopted which will be susceptible to theslightest exhalation and will demonstrate to the eye of the operatorthat he is all right. These means consist of, principally, a smalldelicate wind-wheel D, the axis of which is journaled in the extremitiesof suitable lugs arising from the rear end of arm d, and which isrevolved rapidly more or less as the air from the throat passes it, asshown in Fig. 6.

IVhile the use of the wind-wheel located as above described and as shownin said figure is superior to an instrument not possessing one, yet itis so far removed from the mouth of the incision that for all practicalpurposes I deem it advisable to place the same nearer the throat. This Iaccomplish by journaling said wind-wheel in the ends of correspondingarms 6 e, the opposite ends of which are journaled in the extremity ofthe goose-neck arm E, projecting from the center of a plug or collarF,which is inserted in the rear cylindrical end of arm 0, or maysurround the same, so as to be easily attached to or removed therefrom.Arms e 6 run parallel to each other, and are such a distance apart thatwhen in proper position for an operation they rest on the edges of thegroove 0, and these arms have their extremities, in which the wind-wheelD is journaled, turned at right angles to their length, so as to bringthe ends of the vanes of said wheel into saidgroove near'the mouth ofthe incision, substantially as shown in Fig. 2.

It is evident that the bodyB of-my instrument may pursue a straightcourse from the the instrument together.

hook to and into the handle of the same. I prefer, however, forconvenience of manipulation, to joint the said body by a suitable linkto the handle. This link G has its ends provided with disk-shapedbosses, which have lateral holes passing through their center and radialgrooves in their articulating side surfaces. The adjacent ends of thebody and handle of my instrument are also provided with similardisk-shaped bosses g, the sur faces of which, coming in contact with theradially-grooved surfaces of the bosses of link G, are similarlyprovided with radial grooves. Now by bringing the bosses of the link andthose of" the body and handle of the instrument, as shown, together andfastening them 'by the thumb-screws h h the serrations of the oneinterlock with thoseof the other and 'bind and lock the parts together,so that the handle may be at any angle to the operating part of theinstrument which it is desired it should be in.

I do not wish to be confined to the use of the link for so jointing thehandle and body of Any means which will enable me to accomplish thisobject will answer. 7

Vhile I have confined myself in the description of my improvedinstrument to human beings, it will be understood-that it can be usedwith equal success veterinary practice.

for animals in What I claim as new is 1. A surgical instrument having asharp hook-shaped operating end, the back of which 5 V is provided witha longitudinal groove therein extending from the point thereof rearward.

2. A surgical instrument having a sharp hook-shaped operating end whichhas an arm extending tangentially to the rear from the 40 highest pointthereof, and the back of which is provided with a longitudinal groovewhich extends from its point onto said arm, in 00111- bination with aWind-wheelD, arms 6 e, gooseneck arm E, and plug F, as and for the pur-5 highest point thereof, and which is provided 50 with a longitudinalgroove in itsloack extending from the point thereof onto said arm, incombination with a wind-wheel, as set forth.

4. A surgical instrumenthaving a sharp 55 hook-shaped operating endwhich is provided with a groove in its back, a body, and a handlesuitably jointed thereto, as set forth.

LEONIDA OLIVIERI.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. H. EVANS, FRANK D. THOMASON.

